First and foremost congratulations if you have made it this far to the interview! That in itself is commendable, so now you just want to make sure you come across in the best possible light.

I have been asked numerous times what to do in preparation for the corrections officer interview, and my answer to would-be CO’s is to look over sample questions beforehand. Getting a hold of likely interview questions for correctional officer isn’t hard to come by. There are several downloadable books available online, but we recommend this one because of the vast amount of sample questions and best answers included in the book.

Whilst there is no way of predicting exactly what you will be asked, here are 5 common questions that tend to come up. This is by no means an exhaustive list. The purpose is to illustrate the importance of preparation and refreshing your memory regarding specific projects and situations.

Sample Interview Question #1: Tell me about yourself

This is probably the most asked question in a correctional officer oral board interview. It breaks the ice and gets you to talk about something you should be fairly comfortable with.

Have something prepared that doesn’t sound rehearsed. It’s not about you telling your life story and quite frankly the raters on the panel just isn’t interested. Unless asked to do so, stick to your education, career and current situation. Work through it chronologically from the furthest back to the present.

Sample Interview Question #2: What do you know about this agency?

Do your homework prior to the correctional officer interview. Doing the background work will help you stand out. Find out who the main players are such as the warden, captains, sergeants, and top level officers.